That fire could have been a lot worse if it had not been for VSCC WA member Ed Farrer while the officials were discussing what to do he grabbed a fire extinguisher which was a few feet away and put the fire out. The fire crew arrived shortly after.

Garry Simkin was the first to run and grab an extinguisher, as seen in subsequent photos. He walked straight to the car and killed 80% of the flames in 10 seconds, very ably assisted by Ed Farrer. Both guys did an excellent job of saving a great car!Well done guys!

Hullo Guys;
Paul, I think you are a little unfair on the Fire Crew regarding this incident.
I have been a Fire Marshal for many moons. (The Farm,Catalina,Oran Park Amaroo).
Back in the "Good Old Days" Officials were allowed to use their brains.
Something like that years ago as soon as it flashed you would be away in the fire truck.
Today,you are NOT allowed to move without permission of Race Control.
Moving without Race Control,s permission today would mean all hell would break loose.
The after effects of moving without permission would be castration at minimum.
Something like that as far as I am concerned is do the job,get there as soon as possible and sort the politics out later.!!
We relocated to Tasmania a few years ago.
One of the first meetings we attended I let it be known very strongly that if I was in charge of a Fire Truck and there was a seriious incident I was not going to wait for Race Control.
Net result was stunned looks.
My further comment was "If we get a driver out unhurt and he has a bloody good cough and maybe a heave to get rid of a gutfull of powder we have done our job."
Hope this clears a few points.
Cheers.
Roger.

Hullo Guys;Paul, I think you are a little unfair on the Fire Crew regarding this incident.I have been a Fire Marshal for many moons. (The Farm,Catalina,Oran Park Amaroo).Back in the "Good Old Days" Officials were allowed to use their brains.Something like that years ago as soon as it flashed you would be away in the fire truck.Today,you are NOT allowed to move without permission of Race Control. Moving without Race Control,s permission today would mean all hell would break loose.The after effects of moving without permission would be castration at minimum. Something like that as far as I am concerned is do the job,get there as soon as possible and sort the politics out later.!! We relocated to Tasmania a few years ago.One of the first meetings we attended I let it be known very strongly that if I was in charge of a Fire Truck and there was a seriious incident I was not going to wait for Race Control.Net result was stunned looks. My further comment was "If we get a driver out unhurt and he has a bloody good cough and maybe a heave to get rid of a gutfull of powder we have done our job."Hope this clears a few points.Cheers.Roger.

Yes well...what Stinky said...common sense, no place for it these days!

To be fair, the incident was in direct line of sight of the Control Tower...so the CoC, Flag and Recovery/Fire/Incident management people should have been right on it...Hate to say this, but people are more valuable than any car (no matter how pretty or valuable)...I surmise there was a quick discussion about the possibility of exploding fuel tank/onboard fire bottle etc...whilst Fire One or the nearest Unit was scrambled...

If there was a major flash....I shudder to think about that bare flesh all around

Hullo Guys;Paul, I think you are a little unfair on the Fire Crew regarding this incident.Roger.

My comment was not directed at the fire crew but to some other officials who can be seen in photos standing quite near the extinguishers but apparently doing nothing while Garry is running the full width of the pit lane to get to the extinguisher. I guess my comment was a bit unfair as not many people would be so quick off the mark as Garry was. His prompt and effective action clearly saved what might have been a VERY serious situation with a full grid of cars lined up closely in the pit lane and carrying quite a lot of fuel after being red flagged on lap 1 of a 15 lap event. In the photos I have seen I assume it is Ed in the dark shorts and shirt trying to get the on board extinguisher going after Cameron has focussed on getting the driver out and Garry is running over to get the extinguisher. All three deserve the very highest praise and I do hope that HSRCA will do something appropriate to recognise that.

Hi Again Fellas;
Paul, I do not think the Fire Crew would take any offence.
But PLEASE do not get me started on the edict that shorts,polos and similar are proper attire for pit lane,grids marshalling areas etc.
What happened to the old wrist to ankle clothing rule??
Also at historic events you are dealing with fuels that the younger officials have basically never heard of.
Ask some of them what Avgas or Methanol is and they would not know.
Unfortunately there is a shortage of trainee officials.
I know this is a little off topic but all of you "Old Fossils" will appreciate it I think.
Two V8 meetings ago we all had to attend a briefing /instructional day a couple of weeks before the meeting.
The "Instructors" were two whizz bang motivators from Melbourne.
After about an hour of total BS we got statrted (I think.)
First thing we had to do was all join hands in a circle.get down on our knees and on cue leap high in the air like a pack of startled wallabies yelling OK!! at the tops of our voices.
Hell of a lot of bloody use if you were dealing with a couple of cars upside down on fire with full fuel loads and drivers trapped!!
Don't know,maybe I have been an official too long or I am just getting old and cranky.
Or I suppose I am still back in the day when things were done properly.
Cheers.
Roger.

Hi Mick;
They were from CAMS head office or VESA.
Almost sure CAMS.
As to sampling the poppies down here not a real good idea.
The paddocks of them reach right to the road and there is a warning sign on the fence.
If you get caught in a poppy field it is 2 years as a guest of Her Majesty straight up.
Don't want any more alternative lifestyle bodies down here.
We have enough greenies and rent a crowd to sink the island half a metre!!
Cheers.
Roger.

Yes, as discussed with the organisers, i am in the UK until 2013 and the M10B is in storage......Sorry if I disappointed many, but there was nobody as dissapointed as myself.regards.

Yas, normally a note from your Mother would be required to explain your absence, however, the TNF Committee has granted you a waiver in this case, with the proviso that you try and do better next time!